ch 3: the role of ethical decisions

ethical traditions - part of larger paradigms

• ideal types

• compete: universal morality challenged

• are consistent with each other,

• has imposition as strong as law

Some ethical traditions connected with what two analyses?

ends-based and rules-based

what is essential for a tradition?

widespread customary practice

ethical traditions - role

provide ethical framework, standards, different lenses

The challenges of competing traditions

- How to select the most desirable tradition...

- When one tradition is accepted only by its adherents?

- There is NO authoritative ethical method of selecting one?

existence of multiple ethical traditions

1. welch: conventionalism (morality based on consensus) - NOT valid basis for morality

2. then should we disregard ethics? no!

utility of multiple ethical traditions

strengthens moral analysis

ethical traditions/theories vs ethical strategies

traditions/theories - what

strategies - how

ethical traditions - many ethical theories

we look at: realism, idealism, principled realism

elements of realism

1. pessimistic view of human nature

2. power

3. state

4. anarchy

5. consequential ethics

1. pessimistic view of human nature

- human nature is motivated by self-interest at the expense of others.

- political action should be guided on how humans are likely to behave, not how they ought to.

- international order/justice can be advanced through policies based on power (environment of anarchy)

- peace is a by-product of balance/management of power

2. realism emphasizes power.

- hans morgenthau: politics is a struggle for power.

- this struggle is more pronounced in global society, bc anarchy

3. realism = state-centric approach

- the main actor = nation-state.

- dominance of nation-states rooted in their sovereignty.

- degree of state's self-governance depends on:

its own political, military, economic resources; capabilities of other states (which can challenge)

4. realism = global society is anarchy

- decentralized, anarchic environment - a self-help system.

- fundamental national interest is survival. survival depends on

1) own capabilities/resources

2) military force (most important)

3) alliances

5. realism relies on consequential ethics

- often critiqued as amoral

1) power = main instrument

2) national security/interest = main end.

- concern - dissolves moral duties

- kennan argues: gov is agent, not principal.

is realism amoral?

morgenthau: no!

- political ethics different from personal ethics

- judges actions by consequences

- basing policy on abstract moral principles = harmful (undermines nat interest/difficult to compromise)

- decision making should be guided by prudence: pursuing the greatest good among morally acceptable alternatives. prudence overrides morality (Nardin)

case study on realism

US intervention in grenada

grenada timeline

- small caribbean island, gained independence from britain in 1974

- parliamentary government led by eric gairy, creation of paramilitary squads

- maurice bishop (leading NJM) led a coup 1979 & established people's revolutionary government (marxist ideology, aligned w cuba)

- carter distanced itself, regain had more aggressive opposition

- tensions within PRG, bishop shared power with bernard coard

- coard-austin coup 1983 overthrew bishop, killed 100. breakdown in public authority

- sir paul scoon (governor-general) requested foreign assistance

- US intervened w military

us intervention justifications

1) protect lives of US citizens in grenada

2) response to joint request from caribbean nations

3) response to request from governor-general

us intervention real reason

halt the spread of marxism

juridical perspective of intervention

flagrant violation of international law - violated country's sovereignty without authorization of international organization

michael doyle - views of different states

significant about us intervention

Grenada citizens supported it

realist values in us intervention

1. pessimistic view - conflictual relationships evidence of quest for power

2. state-centric - security depends on state and allies

3. power settles disputes - american power determined historical evolution of grenada

4. shift in balance of power in caribbean caused intervention

idealism

rooted in ancient thought

idealism's 2 elements

1. liberalism

2. internationalism

liberalism people/elements

john locke, rousseau - contractarian thoeries

adam smith, john stuart mill - liberal philosophies

political liberalism

- consent as a basis of legitimate political authority

- limited constitutional government as a foundation for human rights

internationalism people

immanuel kant, woodrow wilson

immanuel kant internationalsim

perpetual peace

conditions for peace:

- domestic/internatioanl institutions

- best maintained through federation of limited constitutional republics

woodrow wilson internationalism

- father of league of nations

- self-determination as a basic principle of world order

elements of idealism

1. optimistic view

2. moral values

3. human rights

4. international law and transnational organizations

1. optimistic view

- humans are fundamentally good

- evil/injustice due to unjust/imperfect political/economic structures of global society

- effectiveness of human reason in developing norms and facilitating international coordination/peace

- "doctrine of harmony of interests" (Carr): some believe the vital interests of states are complementary

- free trade -> international peace

- global harmony is possible NOT bc of political morality. but individual/collective behavior, justice

2. moral values

- define foreign policy interests, strategies, application

- rule-based ethics, not consequentialist (which is realist)

- ensure goals/intentions/outcomes are consisted with common morality

- modern international relations research disregards impact of human nature, human/political morality.

-> emphasizes structures and institutions, paying little attention to role of ethics/moral values

-> ex) global cooperation explained by structural conditions, not moral values.

3. human rights

- rooted in political liberalism

- locke, rousseau, mill: individual rights, human dignity, political freedom primary

-> government to protect human rights by establishing limited constitutional regimes

- interstate conflicts due to illegitimate regimes, so spread of democracy fosters peace

- woodrow wilson: governments should be more responsive to public opinion, no secret diplomacy "open covenants openly arrived at."

4. international law and transnational organizations

- law and international structures ensure global cooperation & world order.

- modern realism: emphasis on international organizations

- recent idealism: emphasis on state/nonstate actors

case study on idealism

president carter's human rights policy

human rights policy adopted as

both a standard by which to judge the conduct of others and a set of principles to guide its own foreign policy.

ways to promote human rights

1. public diplomacy

2. emphasized human rights initiatives within international organizations

3. bureau of human rights

4. use of sanctions to promote human rights

contention point for carter's HR

us-soviet tensions on Sakharov, an HR activist within the soviet union

criticism of carter's HR policies

inconsistent (hypocritical because of its selective and inconsistent application - focused on individual HR abuses while overlooking system-wide violations)

principled realism also known as

neoliberalism or realistic idealism

principled realism

combines moral values of idealism and the power politics of realism

characteristics of principled realism

1. regards world as anarchic community

2. power is necessary to secure/protect interests

3. skeptical of role of global institutions in maintaining global order, promoting HR

4. the quality of domestic politics shapes global order

- > human rights will influence both foreign policy and the nature of global politics

5. moral values are included in foreign policy interests and strategies

6. security AND liberty, HR; national AND global welfare

differences between principled realism and realism

1. foreign policy decision take into consideration moral values

2. there is an interest for global welfare (but not necessarily realized through role of international institutions)

3. insists on role of domestic politics in global affairs. (type of government influences global politics)

morgenthau on moral courage and moral judgment

- moral courage: to know that a political act is evil, and to act nevertheless

- moral judgment: choose the least evil action

reagan doctrine

- advance human freedom by supporting fragile democratic governments

- provide military and economic power to end communist expansion

- el salvador (provided resources) / nicaragua (covert military aid)

2 strands of principled realism

1) emphasizes global expansion of democracy and HR

2) constrained, prudential use of power in advancing moral ideals

1) expansion of democracy and HR

- HR/democracy contribute to peace and global order

- foreign policy's role is to advance freedom

- power is used if necessary for HR and international order

- Krauthammer: democratic realism

democratic realism

US provides universal support for democracy but commits tangible resources only where it is "strategically necessary"

2) prudential use of power to advance moral ideals

- moral values are rooted in culture

- more constrained political action

- 5 virtues: prudence, humility, knowledge of other countries, responsibility, patriotism

principled realism case study

the bush doctrine

bush doctrine - 2002 NSS (national security strategy of the US)

- promoting HR and democracy

- maintaining military supremacy

- responding to unconventional threats with preemptive force

- willingness to act unilaterally, when necessary

bush doctrine integrates

moral ideas and military/political power

bush doctrine elements (shows principled realism)

- unipolarity (america as the singular best world power) is conducive to peace, american power can contribute to a peaceful and prosperous world order

- multilateralism necessary for peace, security, freedom

- use of preemptive and preventive force

- champion HR and democracy

criticism of bush doctrine and counters

1) shortcomings of unilateralism (action without consultation of other members of alliances/coalitions) -> also emphasizes coalition and unilateral action is last resort

2) from deterrence to preemption (force with knowledge of imminent attack) -> preemption is not a new doctrine

power of the bush doctrine

incandescent moral clarity

major shifts with the bush doctrine

- emphasis on ideals and interests

- freedom: not only the goal but the strategy itself